So, to Christmas. Log fires (sometimes), plenty of food (certainly) and the chance to get in some serious reading time away from the pressures of the day job.
Morrissey, cultural figurehead and former Smiths frontman, recently released his highly anticipated autobiography, as a Penguin Classic no less, and entered the intriguing realm of music books.
Tales of a famous life straight from the horse’s mouth are too good to pass up in many cases, with countless stories needing clarification and new perspective. Moz released a poetic 450+ page tome for you to get your head around, but there are countless others worth reading and ripe for a place in your stocking. Here are just a few to sink your teeth into.
Johnny Cash - Cash
"Hey, I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I’m certainly not the dumbest. I mean, I’ve read books like The Unbearable Lightness Of Being and Love In The Time Of Cholera, and I think I’ve understood them. They’re about girls, right? Just kidding. But I have to say my all-time favourite book is Johnny Cash’s autobiography Cash by Johnny Cash." - Rob, High Fidelity.
Many music fans know this story - the music, the drugs, Cash’s life with June Carter - but to see it told through his own eyes really brings even the most well worn details to life. The dark corners of his career are laid bare for the reader and his faith plays a large part, but where many can lecture, Cash does not.
As a music fan it's great to revel in stories involving Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Patsy Cline, to name but a few. A must read for anyone remotely interested in the Man in Black.
Corey Taylor - Seven Deadly Sins and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Heaven
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has put his name to a brace of books, Seven Deadly Sins and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Heaven. The first finds Taylor travelling through his life assessing his sins - be it the jealousy he feels towards others, or the lust that has landed him in some unusual situations.
The latter sees him explore the realms of the paranormal, with surprising results, and here he is happy to put forward his own explanation as to how spirits exist. Taylor's books are on the brink of sermonising, but he throws his hands up frequently: “This is just my opinion”. He slates a number of ideas, with religion getting a fair bashing, but he always has a reflective yarn to balance it out.
Patti Smith - Just Kids
A poet by nature, an artist to the core, it's unsurprising that there is a lot of work to Patti Smith’s name, from music to verse, yet there's something about Just Kids in particular that transcends the rest. Focusing on her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, the story blends the late ‘60s backdrop of New York with their own ambitions and journey.
It really is a love story about two people invested in their art. Decades old, the ending is no secret, but the lyrical manner in which Smith takes you there makes it difficult to tear yourself from its grasp. There's also insight into the lives of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, however fleeting, and it's difficult to forget.
Gene Simmons - Kiss And Make Up
It's hardly surprising that the man behind one of the world's biggest brands has delved into books, but Gene Simmons' Kiss And Make Up is surprisingly wonderful. The bassist speaks of his Jewish heritage and adapting to life in America, after arriving in Queens from Israel, before delving into the larger-than-life existence of KISS. He fleetingly touches on the fact he's slept with over 4,600 women during his time and retells their stories with an edge of "this was really all my idea".
But, it's difficult to dispute how intelligent he is, and the story of one of the greatest ‘band brands’ being retold by one of its driving forces makes for a very interesting read. Also, it's not quite as egotistical as you'd expect. His follow up - Sex, Money, Kiss - certainly ticks all the boxes for controversial opinions where his first gracefully dodged them.
Mötley Crüe - The Dirt
Where certain autobiographies can be one sided, The Dirt is a cumulative retrospective on some of rock 'n' roll's dirtiest exploits. Mötley Crüe’s rollercoaster ride is one that was exacerbated by fame and they are the epitome of that classic cliché: sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.
Will it shock people? Well, even those who have read their share of rock star revelations could learn a thing or two from these pages. But the team approach to it allows the reader to experience the stories from each perspective, rather than a solo deal. Each band member's own personality and voice is clear, and their losses through the lifestyle are tackled. Frank and fearless, it's a must read for rockers.
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